ILOILO City – So that ageing war veterans are ensured of proper healthcare, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) plans to open veterans’ wards in regional hospitals across the country managed by the Department of Health (DOH).
After the pilot veterans’ ward opens in Davao City, the other regional hospitals would follow, said PVAO administrator Ernesto Carolina.
“DOH secretary Francisco Duque authorized us already,” disclosed Carolina during rites commemorating the 74th Liberation of Panay at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district on March 18.
The veterans’ ward would have 10 beds.
“Our war veterans deserve to have a ward of their own in government hospitals,” stressed Carolina.
Now senior citizens, the war veterans’ most common concern is their frail health.
The government operates the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to address the health concerns of veterans, their dependents and retirees in the government’s Armed Forces but it is located in Quezon City and the distance could be too much to travel for war veterans from faraway parts of the country.
Also, according to Carolina, the government plans to shoulder all the medical/health needs of war veterans beginning in year 2020.
“We would like our war veterans to feel na they are important, na we are recognizing them, binibigyang value or halaga ang kanilang masalakit at serbisyo sa bayan,” said Carolina.
Beginning January 2019, the veterans’ monthly pension was increased – P20,000 from the previous P5,000, said Carolina./PN
